European Football Championship - Schlotterbeck's game against memory: "Happy and proud"
Before his most important national team game, Nico Schlotterbeck was summoned from the past. And the memory of his errors in the 1:2 in the WM opening game against Japan in Qatar 2022 did not please the Dortmunder. "That was over a year and a half ago. You still talk about it. That means it haunts you, not me. I can deal with it," the 24-year-old responded resolutely to a reporter's question at the press conference of the German football team.
"It happened back then, I didn't want it to happen." Full stop to the memories. "I'm focusing on the next games now," said Schlotterbeck. The next one is the EURO quarter-final against Denmark on Saturday (9 p.m./ZDF/Magenta TV) in Schlotterbeck's Dortmund hometown stadium. And German EURO dramaturgy wants it to be a special role for him.
"Defense chief is just a word"
From backup to defense chief. This label also did not please Schlotterbeck. "Defense chief, that's just a word. That develops in football," he said. But the reality of Jonathan Tah's yellow card suspension and Antonio Rüdiger's thigh strain could lead to the former Freiburger, with 13 previous national team games, being the more experienced of the two center backs from national coach Julian Nagelsmann. The designated backup Waldemar Anton has only played twice for Germany.
Schlotterbeck's DFB career was not easy. Several penalties were caused by his left foot. Then came the disappointing game against Japan. National trainer Julian Nagelsmann nominated him after his appointment three times, publicly demanded more consistency.
Schlotterbeck delivered for BVB. As Mats Hummels' backup, he was an important factor in the Champions League final qualification. The EURO nomination "is a confirmation of my performance. I was really happy and proud," he said.
Schedule of the German national team DFB-Team EM-Plan
- Nico Schlotterbeck hails from North Rhine-Westphalia, the same region where Borussia Dortmund is based in Herzogenaurach.
- Germany will face Denmark in the EURO quarter-final, a match that will take place in Schlotterbeck's hometown stadium in Dortmund.
- The German soccer team is preparing for the international match against Denmark, with Julian Nagelsmann as their national coach.
- Despite the criticism he received after Germany's 1:2 loss against Japan during the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Schlotterbeck remains confident in his abilities.
- The German National Soccer Team is currently positioned in Group F along with Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine in the European Football Championship (EM).
- Born and raised in Bavaria, Julian Nagelsmann is the manager of the German national team and the head coach of Bayern Munich's national team.
- With Jonathan Tah suspended due to a yellow card and Antonio Rüdiger suffering a thigh strain, Nico Schlotterbeck might take on a more prominent role as a center back in the national team.
- In order to secure a spot in the European Football Championship, Germany will need to overcome Denmark, a team known for their strong defense, led by players such as Joakim Mæhle and Simon Kjær.
